Scale or balance



June 6, M KATZ SCALE OR BALANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2, 1942 INVENTOR MAuR c E KATZ BY 2 r I ATTORNEY June 6,1944. Ni, KATZ I 2,350,622

SCALE OR BALANCE I Filed Jan. 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR L' MAURICE KATZ mi... H 5 A ATTORN Patented June 6, 1944 SCALE R BALANCE Maurice Katz, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to The a corporation of Ohio Application January 2, 1942, Serial No. 425,398

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to weighing scales, and more particularly to mechanism for indicating the deflection of the beam of a weighing scale, which mechanism includes an index member movable by the scale beam and in optical alignment with a magnifying lens, and a light source for projecting an image of the index member through the lens, the lens being arranged to project the image at an acute angle with horizontal and onto a screen having indicia.

An object of the invention is to mount the lens on a unit that is movable along a guide extending parallel with the axis of the lens and provide a second unit movable in a horizontal direction, for example, by a driving member, the two units being connected by a member secured to one of the units and slidably engaging with the other so that the units can move along converging paths.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of forming a device including a plurality of individual units each having openings, which openings are axially aligned with one another, the units being ilrst formed in an integral member, as by casting, then drilling an opening in the member, and then severing the member on a plane intersecting the drilled opening.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of 3 embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view, in section, of a weighing scale, the section being taken substantially on line of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a view, in section, of the scale shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and on a larger scale. of the weighing scale show ing the mechanism for projecting an image of an index member carried by the scale beam;

Fig. 4 is a view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, the view being taken substantially on line l4 of Fig. 3, part of the mechanism being shown broken away;

Fig. 5 is a view, in section, taken on line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view, in elevation, of an index mem- Exact Weight Scale Company, Columbus, Ohio,

closing a preferred form of embodiment of the invention, I have shown, referring to the accompanying drawings, an "over and under type weighing scale 20. The weighing scale 2|! comprises a base 2| for supporting the scale mechanism and this mechanism is enclosed by a casing 22 that is secured to the base 2| by screws 23. Preferably, a gasket 24 is interposed between the casing and the base for forming a dust proof seal. The scale mechanism is similar to that shown in Fig. 2 of the patent to J. F. Sullivan No. 2,218,562, and it comprises, generally, a scale beam 25 fulcrumed at 26 on two uprights 21, which uprights are mounted on the base 2|. The fulcrum 26 is formed by suitable knife edge bearings.

The forward end of the scale beam 25 carries a load platter 30, which platter is pivotally supported on the beam by the usual pivotal supports. A weight platter 3| is supported adjacent the opposite end of the scale beam also by the usual pivotal support. The platters 30 and 3| are maintained level during oscillation of the beam 25 by the well known expedient of a check rod 33, which rod is pivotally supported at 34 on a stem 39 depending from the uprights 21 and having one end thereof pivotally connected to a stem 35 extending downwardly from the platter 30 and the opposite end pivotally connected to a stem 36 extending downwardly from the weight platter 3|. Resilient metallic strips 40 are provided at each end of the scale beam 25, and a dash pot 4| is attached to the rearwardly extending end of the beam. The strips and dash pot function in the usual manner. Suitable stops 2 are also provided at each end of the scale beam for limiting the deflection of the latter. The load platter 30 extends upwardly through an opening in the forward portion of the casing 22 and the weight platter 3| is enclosed by the easing 22, the rearward portion of which casing has considerably greater depth than the forward portion. Weights are placed on the platter -3| through an opening 46 formed in one side of the rearward portion of the casing 22. The opening 46 is closed by a plate 43 that is secured to the casing by thumb screws 44. Preferably, a gasket 45 is interposed between the plate 43 and the casing 22 for forming a dust tight seal.

The weighing scale 20, being the over and under type, is arranged to indicate whether or not the load on the platter 30 is greater or less than the weight placed on the platter 3|. If the load and weight are the same, the beam 25 will be substantially horizontal, but if there is a difference in weight of the load and the weight on the respective platters, the beam will be deflected. The mechanism for indicating the deflection of the scale beam 25 comprises, in general, a linear index member carried by the scale beam, a magnifying lens arranged in optical alignment with the index member and a suitable light source arranged to project a shadow or image of the index member through the lens and onto a screen visible to the scale operator. The screen is provided with indicia which, in conjunction with the image of the index member, indicates the deflection of the scale beam. By moving the index' slight movement of the scale beam will be clearly indicated.

The index member should be formed by a su table device that would cause a linear shadow to be projected, such as fine wire or pointer, but in the present embodiment it comprises a glass disc 50 having a linear scratch 5| formed on one of the surfaces thereof. The scratch 5| forms a linear shadow when light is projected through the disc. It is to be understood that the term index member includes the scratch, 5| on the disc- 50. The disc 50 is mounted on a ring like frame 52. The frame 52 is formed having an annular shoulder 53 against which the disc 50 abuts. The disc is maintained against the shoulder 53 by two screws threaded in the frame, the screws being shown at 54. Preferably, a rubber washer is interposed between the heads of the screws 54 and the glass disc. also formed having a stem 55, which stem is c rcular in cross section. The stem 55 is adapted to be attached to one end of a link 56 by extending The frame 52 is the stem into an opening 51 drilled through an enlarged end of the link and transversely thereof. The stem is secured in the opening 51 by a set screw 58. It is apparent that the frame 52 extends laterally from the link 56 and that the angle formed between the axis of the ring l ke frame and the link can be varied by turning the stem 55 in the opening 51.

The link 56 is attached to the scale beam 25 by extending one end thereof through an opening formed through a stud 60, which stud is attached to the side of the scale beam, and securing the link 56 in the stud by a set screw 6|. The stud 60 is attached to the scale beam 25 by threading one end thereof into the scale beam. The stud is locked in position by a lock nut 02. It is apparent that the angle at which the link member 56 forms with the scale beam can be adjusted by loosening the lock nut 62 and rotating the stud 60 for causing the link to extend at the desired angle and then resetting the lock nut. In the present embodiment of the invention, the link member 56 extends downwardly from the scale beam and the axis of the frame 52 extends in the direction of the fulcrum 28 for the scale beam and is spaced from the beam.

The light source for the indicating mechanism comprises a low voltage electric lamp 64 and a light condensing device 65. The lamp 64 is attached to the side wall of the casing. The housing 68 is provided with an opening 69 for receiving h gh voltage wires, not shown, by which the transformer is energized. A glass hood H is secured over the lamp 64 for forming a dust proof 'seal between the lamp and the interior of the casing 22. This seal is required where the scale is used for weighing highly inflammable substances or explosives, such as gun powder.

The light condensing device 65 includes a base member 12, which member is mounted on the base 2| by suitable screws. The base member 12 includes an upwardly and forwardly extending section 13, the upper portion of which section is in the form of a ring like frame 14. The frame 14 has an annular shoulder 15 extending inwardly about the opening therethrough. A condensin lens 16 is mounted in the frame 14 by pressing it against the shoulder 15 by a tubular member 11, which member 11 is telescoped in the opening through the frame 14 and edges of one end thereof engage the lens. The edges of the opposite end of the tubular member 11 form a shoulder against which a second condensing lens 18 is pressed by an annular rim 80. The rim has an annular inwardly extending shoulder 8| that engages the lens 18 adjacent the edges thereof. The rim 80 is attached to the frame 14 by screws 82.

The magnifying lens through which the image of the scratch 5| is projected, comprises two magnifying lenses 84 and 85, which lenses are mounted in a movable unit 86. The unit 86 comprises two tubular sections 81 and 88 interconnected by a yoke 89. The tubular section 81 has an annular inwardly extending shoulder 90 formed at one end thereof, which shoulder serves to retain the lens 84 in the opening through the section. A tubular member 92 is fitted in the opening through the tubular section 81, and one end thereof engages the lens 84 for locking the lens in position. The opposite end of the tubular member 92 forms a shoulder for retaining the lens 85. The lens is pressed against the end of the tube 92 by the end edges of a sleeve 03 that is threaded into the tubular section 81. v

The tubular section 88 is slidingly mounted on a guide rod 96, which rod is rigidly secured to the base member 12 and extends from the base member in a direction parallel with the common axis of the condensing lenses 16 and 18 and so that the magnifying lenses are in alignment with the condensing lenses. Although the rod 96 can be attached to the base member by any suitable expedient, I have shown the rod secured in a tapered opening in the base member by a driven fit, the end of the rod in the opening and the opening being tapered.

The unit 86 also includes a vertically extending tubular section 98 formed at one side of the tubular section 88, and a downwardly extending rod 99 is rigidly attached in the tubular section 98 by a driven fit, similarly to the manner in wh ch the rod 96 is attached in the base 12.

The base member I2 is provided with a horizontally extending opening I02, and a shaft I03 is extended through the opening. The shaft I03 is adapted to be rotated in the opening I02, and the forward end of the shaft is slotted for receiving a screw driver. Lengthwise movement of the shaft is prevented by a screw I04 that is threaded in the base member 12 and is adapted to extend between the side walls of a groove I05 formed about the shaft I03. The end of the screw I04 cooperates with the walls of the groove I05 for preventing endwis movement of the shaft. The rearwardly extending end of the shaft Ill is threaded, and a tubular unit I" is threaded on the shaft. The unit I" is provided with a vertically extending tubular section I II, which section is adapted to slidingly receive the rod 95.

When the shaft Ili is rotated, the unit I" is prevented from rotating by the rod 9! cooperating with the walls of the tubular section I, and therefore, the unit I" will be moved in a direction of the axis of the shaft "3 by the threads on the rod. This movement of the unit I" is transmitted to the unit 55 by the rod 9! and the unit 86 will be moved along the guide rod 95 in a direction at an angle to the direction of the unit Ill. The diverging and converging of the paths of the units I5 and III is possible due to sliding of the rod 9! in the tubular section III. Thus, by rotating the horizontally extending shaft I", the lens carrying unit It is moved in the direction of the axis of the lens for focusing the image of the scratch 5| of the disc 5' on a reflector, which reflector is described hereinafter.

For counteracting any tendency of the unit It to wabble on the rod 55, I have provided a coil spring I" about the rod 96 and intermediate the base I2 and the unit .5, and a coil spring II. between the units II! and 85 and surrounding the rod 8!. The spring II! urges the unit 85 outwardly along the rod 36, thereby causing the rod 99 to frictionally engage the walls of the opening in the tubular section Ill. The spring I II tends to rotate the units 86 and I" in opposite directions, thereby causing the rod 99 to cooperate with the walls of the opening through the section III for establishing the vertical position of the unit 56 on the rod 55. Thus, although there may be relatively considerable differences in the diameters of the rod 5 and the opening in the unit 88 through which the rod extends and the diameter of the rod 5! and the opening through the section III, the unit 05 will be restrained from wabbling on its guide.

I form the base member I2 and the units it and II! by making a unitary die casting in which these members are formed integrally. The die casting is then placed in a drill jig. The opening through the section II and the opening in the by drilling the casting so tubular section and the opening for-the guide rod are formed by one drilling operation. Also, the casting is drilled, in one operation, to form the opening "2 and the opening through the section I .1. These two cuted simultaneously if desired. I prefer to drill the casting for forming the openings through the sections 98 and III by a single drilling operation. After these drilling operations have been performed, the casting is severed on a plane indicated at I I2. Then the part of the casting including the units It and III is severed along a plane indicated at III. By first drilling all of the openings in the integral casting without removing the same from the jigs, perfect alignment of the respective openings will be had although the casting is severed into separate units.

The frame 52, carrying the glas; disc 50, is arranged to be moved by the scale beam intermediate the light condensing device 55 and the tubular section II which carries the lenses 8 and 85. The shadow caused by the scratch 5| interrupting the beam of light from the light condensing device G5 is projected through the magnifying lenses l4 and I5 and upwardly in the drilling operations can be exedirection of the axis of the fulcrum 26 and through the horizontal plane of the fulcrum and onto a reflector II5 located above the horizontal plane of the scale beam 25. By causing the image of the scratch 5| to be projected upwardly and in the direction of the axis of the fulcrum 26 for the scale beam 25, the disc 50 will be moved in an are substantially at right angles to the axis of the magnifying lens and, therefore, the changes in distance between the scratch and lens during oscillation of the scale beam will be substantially at a minimum. This minimizes distortion of the image of the scratch by retaining the scratch substantially in focus during movement of the scale beam from one limit to the other.

The reflector H5 is supported by a bracket II 6 that is mounted on the base 2|. The image of the index member is reflected by the reflector I I5 onto a translucent screen I", which screen is, in this instance, a plate of etched glass. The screen H1 is suitably mounted in a frame II8, which frame is supported by a bracket I20 attached to the base 2|. The frame H8 is rectangular and is provided with a rectangular opening through which the screen I I1 may be viewed. The screen II! is provided with indicia thereon comprising a line I 2| extending lengthwise there of, which will appear to extend vertical to the scale operator and having a line I22 extending at right angles to the line l2l at approximately the center of the screen. The screen I I1 is in alignment with a window I 24 formed in a rearwardly and upwardly extending wall of the casing 22 so that the operator of thescale can see the screen H1.

When the lamp BI is lit, scratch 5| will be-projected onto the reflector I I5 and from there to the screen I IT. The disc 50 carrying the scratch 5| is mounted in the frame 52 so that the image of the scratch will be parallel with the line I22. When the load on the platter 3|! is exactly the same as the weight on the platter 3|, the image of the scratch 5| will coincide with the line I22. If the weight of the load on the platter 30 is greater or less than the weight on the platter 3|, the image of the scratch 5| will be on one side or the other of the line I22 for indicating that the load is either over or under the standard weight. If desired, the word over can be applied to the screen above the line I 22 and the word under beneath the line for indicating whether or not the load is over or "under weight.

Two pointers I25 are frictionally secured to the frame H8 by suitable clips, and these pointcrs extend transversely of the line Ill. The purpose of these pointers is to indicate allowable tolerances in the deviation of the load on the platter 30 from the precise weight desired.

It is often desirable to adjust the focus of the image of the index member on the screen HI after the casing 22 is secured to the base 2|, and this is accomplished by rotating the shaft I03 by a tool such as a screw driver. Access is had to the shaft I03 through an opening I 21 formed in an end wall of the casing 22 and in alignment with the end of the shaft, which opening is normally closed by a plug I28 threaded therein. The shaft I03 may easily be rotated by a screw driver, for example, since the shaft is horizontally disposed.

By my invention the mechanism for projecting the image of the index member can be adjusted by causing one unit to move in a horizontal direction and transmit motion to another unit the image of the carrying the lens, the latter unit being movable in a direction at an angle with the horizontal and in alignment with the focal axis of condenser 55.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A weighing scale comprising in combination, a base extending in a horizontal plane; a beam support mounted on the base; a scale beam fulcrumed on the support and extending horizontally; mechanism for indicating movement of the scale beam including a lens member, an index member in alignment with thelens member, one of said members being movable relative to the other by the beam, and a light source aligned with said members for projecting an image of the index member through the lens, said members and light source being arranged to project the image of said index member upwardly and on an acute angle relative to the plane of the base; and means for moving one of said members in the direction of projection of the image including a movable unit, a guide for directing the movable unit in said direction, a shaft, a bearing for mounting the shaft for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said shaft extending parallel with the plane of the base, a unit threaded on the shaft, and a member extending from one of said units to the other of said units and slidingly engaging one of said units for transmitting movement of the second mentioned unit along said shaft to the first mentioned unit for causing movement of the first mentioned unit along said guide.

2. In a weighing scale of the type having a beam and a commodity receiver carried adjacent one end thereof; means for indicating movement of said beam in response to the placement of armeans extending from said base member in' parallel relation to the principal axis of said magnifying lens means, a holderfor said magnifying lens means disposed for movement on said guide means, an actuator journalled for rotation in a horizontal plane in said base member, a transfer unit disposed for longitudinal movement on said 'actuator, and guide means extending substantially vertically between said 'holder and said transfer unit, said second mentioned guide means serving to transmit motion from said transfer unit to said holder when said actuator is rotated.

3. In a scale of the type having a movable element, a screen, means actuated by said movable element for producing a movable image, and means for projecting the movable image on the screen; means for adjusting an element of said image producing and projecting means comprising a base member, actuating means carried by said basev member for movement in a. predetermined plane, guide means projectin from said base member in a plane disposed at an angle to ment, a screen, means actuated by said movable element for producing a movable image, and means for projecting themovable image on the screen;.means for adjusting an element of said image producing and projecting mean comprising a base member, actuating means carried by said base member for movement in a plane disposed at an angle to the line of projection of said image, guide means extending from said base:

member in a. plane parallel to the line of projectlonof said image, holder means disposed for movement on said guide means, said holder meansreceiving the element to be adjusted, a motion translating member disposed for movement by said actuating means, and motion transmitting means between said translating member and said holding means, movement of said actuator being transferred to said holder by said translating and transmitting means. L

5. In a scale of the type having a beam, a screen, means moved by said beam for. producing a movable image, and lens means for projecting the movable image on the screen; means for adjusting said lens means comprising a base member, an actuating screw journalled in said base member for rotation in a horizontal plane, a guide projecting from said base member in parallel relation to the principal axis of said lens means,

holder means for said lens means disposed for movement on said guide means, and means for transmitting motion from said actuator screw to said holder.

6. In a scale of the type having a beam, a screen, means moved by said beam for producing a movable image, and lens means for projecting the movable image on said screen, the principal axis for said lens means being disposed at an angle to the horizontal; means for adjustably supporting said lens means comprising a base member, an actuator screwjournalled for rotation in a horizontal plane in said base member, a transfer unit threadedly mounted on said actuator screw, a guide member projecting from said base member in parallel relation to the principal axis of said lens means, a holder for said lens means disposed for movement on said guide member, .a second guide member disposed at right angles to said actuator screw, said second guide member extending between said holder and said transfer unit and being movable in one thereof, and spring means disposed between said bas'e'member and said holder and the latter and said transfer unit, rotation of said actuator screw MAURICE KATZ. 

